Ice Crystal Eyes (1)
The next day,
During breakfast, a disciple from the North Sea Ice Palace attended to me at my side.
The North Sea Ice Palace didn't keep any maids or servants.
So when guests arrived, the disciples took care of them.
But that didn't mean I could treat them like actual maids.
I spoke to the disciple who had been serving my meal.
"We're planning to leave tomorrow morning."
"So soon?"
"Yes. I'd love to stay longer if I could, but I have too many responsibilities and tasks waiting for me."
It's about time I headed to Hangzhou to collect what I've earned.
And the imperial palace will soon post announcements recruiting merchant groups for foreign trade.
"Honestly, I intended to leave this morning, but I stayed an extra day because I thought my brother, Elder Sang Ho-ran, and Protector Seol Seo-yun might feel slighted."
"Even if we begged you to stay just one more day?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
She nodded at my firm words.
"Understood. I'll inform the Palace Lord."
There was one reason to let her know I was leaving.
To have them prepare money and elixirs in advance for me to take when I departed.
After breakfast, I left my quarters with Seo-hyang Sojeo and strolled through the garden.
The North Sea Ice Palace's garden was filled with all sorts of rare flowers and plants, a feast for the eyes.
"Not too cold?"
She nodded at my question.
"No, it's much better than I expected."
Her complexion looked healthy as she said it. I told her,
"Mind if I check your pulse for a moment?"
"Pardon?"
She blinked in surprise at my words.
"Nothing weird. I just want to check your energy."
She cautiously extended her left hand, and I took her wrist.
But...
I'd meant it purely to check Seo-hyang Sojeo's condition—no ulterior motives.
So why was my heart pounding like this?
Strange, I thought, puzzled, as I examined her energy.
As she'd said, her condition was excellent.
But I couldn't help tilting my head.
The chill and yin energy of the North Sea Ice Palace could shrink even the hardiest person, woman or not.
That's why the girls who entered the palace first trained to adapt to the local energy and absorb it.
She hadn't done any such training, yet her energy was so vibrant?
Maybe Heavenly Flow Technique suits her constitution better than expected.
Either way, it was good news.
I released her wrist and said,
"You're in perfect health. Glad I won't get scolded."
She burst into laughter.
Hey, Sojeo. That's not something to laugh about.
You don't know how terrifying Lady Gwiju-seong is.
I still couldn't forget how she'd swung her fist at that guy named Pyeong-tak from the Oseong Merchant Group, who tried to sabotage the eye transplant.
A woman who didn't even practice martial arts had knocked out two of his teeth with one punch.
I cupped my hands in a fist salute to her.
"Oh, and I meant to say this earlier. Thank you for the tip about the White Blood Shadow Division."
I'd been a bit startled when she said the monster was an oriole.
And amused inside.
But seeing the White Blood Shadow Division in action, it was no laughing matter.
If she hadn't warned me ahead of time, the damage would have been severe.
She gently shook her head.
"It was the right thing to do."
"Honestly, keeping that ability secret must have made it hard to speak up."
"True."
Especially since that power had nearly gotten her assassinated.
"But I hated the thought of someone dying because I stayed silent even more."
She continued,
"And I trust you, Little Division Leader."
"Pardon?"
"You're someone who can change the horrific futures I've seen."
I scratched the back of my neck at her words.
"You're too kind. I just do my best."
But it felt good to hear her say that.
Just then, the disciple who'd served my breakfast approached.
"The Palace Lord summons you."
"Got it."
I nodded and turned to excuse myself from Seo-hyang Sojeo.
"Then I'll..."
The disciple spoke again.
"She summons both of you."
I went with Seo-hyang Sojeo to the Palace Lord's quarters.
As we approached, her voice came from inside.
"Come in."
"Yes."
We entered.
The Palace Lord's quarters were imposingly vast, no matter how many times I saw them.
In that expansive space, she lounged diagonally on a long chair like a bed.
Does she look like a languid white dragon? Or am I imagining it?
"You summoned us?"
She straightened at my words and gestured for us to sit.
"Come sit here."
"Thank you."
We offered our respects and sat across the low table from her.
A disciple soon entered and placed a teapot on the table.
"Pastries are still too much in this situation."
"Pastries in times like these? You're too generous."
"At least we have tea to offer."
She poured for us.
It was the Seolryeon tea I'd had before.
"Leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes. Please forgive me—I can't delay my overdue duties any longer."
"No helping it. I know how busy you are."
"Thank you for understanding."
Right now, Brother Jin-ho was probably surrounded by his wife's aunts, including her maternal uncle's wife, lavished with affection.
The silver lining: no alcohol thanks to the empire's alcohol ban and the Ice Palace's circumstances.
No drunken delays.
"I'll give you the reward I mentioned before, and I've prepared elixirs too. But they're quite heavy..."
"It's fine."
I have the secret storage, after all.
"Just... please keep everything from now on a secret."
She chuckled softly at my words.
"Of course. Besides, I have no one to gossip with anyway. The only decent conversationalist is so stoic..."
Ah, she's talking about Little Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin.
"Not a speck of charm to her name..."
I smiled wryly inside.
Surviving alone from the Snow Wind Palace, honing her blade of vengeance.
In her position, being aloof and charmless was almost natural, wasn't it?
"I know it's tough, but that'll only make it harder."
I could sense her worry for Little Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin in her words.
"Anyway, why the secrecy? What are you planning?"
"This."
I pulled the inkstone from my pouch and opened the secret storage.
Seo-hyang Sojeo's eyes widened at the sight.
This was the first time revealing it to her too.
She was trustworthy, and I knew she couldn't betray me.
But the Palace Lord's reaction differed from what I'd expected.
"That's the secret storage used by the Snow Wind Palace Lord."
"Pardon?"
"A treasure handed down through generations of Snow Wind Palace Lords. I thought it vanished when the palace fell, but here it is in your hands..."
Her voice tinged with regret, she looked at me and asked,
"How did you get it?"
"Well..."
I told the truth.
Bought some sundries at a nearby shop and got it as a bonus.
Then realized by chance what it was.
She sighed as she listened.
"Fate, I suppose. And Seo-hyang Sojeo coming to our palace..."
"...Pardon?"
What did that mean?
"Was it empty inside?"
"Yes, completely."
All that was there was a manual about the storage itself.
"As expected. Then that guy's soul protector must have moved everything out."
"Pardon?"
She explained to my puzzled look.
"Only the storage's owner and their soul protector can access it."
Come to think of it, when I first discovered it, Gold Spirit entered and brought me the manual.
I hadn't understood why then, but now it clicked.
"The soul protector can retrieve or store items on the owner's command."
"So I don't need to carry the inkstone around?"
She thought a moment, then shook her head.
"The soul protector can come and go freely, but you'll probably need the inkstone to enter yourself."
"I see."
Then when Gold Spirit hid those elixirs before, it wasn't in its belly—it was in the storage?
But the manual didn't mention that.
When I asked, she answered readily.
"No manual lists everything—that defeats the purpose of inheritance. The details are explained to the next Palace Lord during handover, along with the stored items."
As expected of the Ice Palace Lord, closely tied to Snow Wind Palace—she knew the intricacies.
But her next words left me tilting my head again.
"Though I've never actually seen one myself."
"Pardon?"
Wait...
Now that I thought about it, no one else could see the storage.
Not even the door, and Palgap had exclaimed, "Is there really a warehouse?" when items vanished into thin air.
Even Master hadn't seen it—just inferred from the items Investigator left behind.
"Palace Lord, how did you know this was the secret storage?"
"From the inkstone in your hand."
"You can't see the door here?"
Seo-hyang Sojeo was the surprised one this time.
"Huh? That white door isn't supposed to be visible?"
Oh? She can see it?
That's why she knew it was white without me saying.
As if to resolve my confusion, the Palace Lord spoke.
"That's why I called the Sojeo. I suspected, but now it's certain."
A moment later,
After stowing the reward for this job in my secret storage, we sat back at the table.
The Palace Lord looked at Seo-hyang Sojeo and said,
"You see the future."
"...!"
At the direct question, Seo-hyang Sojeo flinched and glanced at me questioningly.
I gave a slight nod, and she affirmed it plainly.
"Yes. That's right."
"It's because your eyes are special. And it means your heart is exceptionally pure."
I agreed about her pure heart.
I'd been moved by it when we first met.
Purity wasn't just kindness.
It meant no darkness in the soul, viewing all things with clear eyes.
"In our North Sea Ice Palace, we call those eyes Ice Crystal Eyes."
Ice crystal held profound meaning in the North Sea Ice Palace—the treasure of treasures.
So they cherished anyone with such eyes.
That explained why the Palace Lord had brightened upon seeing Seo-hyang Sojeo.
"One with Ice Crystal Eyes doesn't just see the future. They see hidden things."
"So that's why I could see the storage door?"
"Exactly."
Her gaze on Seo-hyang Sojeo was intense.
Like she'd found something she liked...
I raised my hand, shielding Seo-hyang Sojeo with my sleeve.
"Don't even think about it. She's mine."
"Hohoho."
The Palace Lord laughed at me.
"How did you know I was eyeing her?"
"Think I've done just a deal or two?"
"Fair enough. But relax—no need to shield her. I won't devour her."
Only then did I lower my arm.
"Though I am eyeing her."
The Palace Lord addressed Seo-hyang Sojeo.
"This place probably didn't feel too harsh. Even for women only, adapting to the energy here is tough."
"..."
"It means the environment suits you. We'll teach you martial arts to grow strong and provide an enviable life."
She continued,
"Minus the no-marriage rule, it's ideal. So, formally: become a disciple of the North Sea Ice Palace."
"Palace Lord!"
My voice rose.
Said she wouldn't devour, then this? What else is devouring?
I was about to protest again.
That's when.
"I'm sorry, Palace Lord."
"...?"
Seo-hyang Sojeo spoke confidently.
"I can't accept your offer."
"Why not?"
"The safest place for me is by Eun Seo-ho Little Division Leader's side."
"This place is safe too."
"Even without Eun Seo-ho Little Division Leader's help?"
"..."
The Palace Lord burst into laughter, speechless.
"Well played! I knew you'd refuse, but not this sharply."
So why eye her in the first place?
Seo-hyang Sojeo isn't one to trifle with.
Composing herself, the Palace Lord continued.
"Fine. Just one request instead."